The Sword and the Lady

Across the misty lake so clear
And braced against the morning shear,
I gazed upon the frigid water,
Searching for a lost god's daughter.
‘Tis the Lady of the Lake I seek
And her sodden trove that I bespeak.

Oh hear me fair and virtuous Viviane,
unjustly cast into oblivion,
Rise up to the sound of my voice,
not through force but by your choice.
Honor me with the sword of kings
that my enemies may feel my spiteful stings.
I have the right to Sir Arthur's claim
for his blood and mine, are the same.
I am his noble and legitimate heir;
Excalibur should be mine to bear.

Then the wind began to wail and shriek,
Knocking me back upon my seat.
The waters churned and frothed and boiled,
Twining into the sky only to uncoil.
Lifting up from her liquid slumber,
The lady rose with a stroke of thunder.

Nobel and legitimate you say.
Give you the sword, I should obey.
Prove your claim without a doubt,
cut the skin open so the proof is let out.

Upon my feet I began to wade,
And felt to my waist to fetch my blade.
Across my palm I let the blade slip
And into the water I let the proof drip.

Yes, there it is, now I can see. 
Arthur’s true heir surely you must be.
Yet blood alone grants you no right,
you must have wisdom, you must have sight.
To wield this glaive your heart must be pure.
Answer my riddle, then I’ll be sure.

I gave you the proof yet still I must wait?
A child’s game must decide my fate?
Yes, lady spirit I’ll do what you ask.
What more can I do but perform your task?

I am the sin that is above all others,
I place the one, above his brothers.
Moses was sinful, but he knew not me.
Of all of the sins, who can I be?

Thoughtfully, I considered her question.
I must answer right to receive my obsession.
Many sins came into my mind,
Murder and adultery and not being kind.
But of all the sins that my brain sorted and spun,
None of them seemed to be the right one.
Then it came to me as clear as a spring!
I wanted to shout it, I wanted to sing!

Vanity's the sin that’s above all others.
Vanity tells the one he stands above his brothers.
Moses was sinful, that surely must be true,
but also he was humble; more so than me or you.

You are correct and Excalibur is your right,
but I give it not for war, I give it not for spite.
Remember my riddle all the days of your life,
not only in peace but also in strife.
If honor is what you wish it shall be endowed,
but to receive honor you must keep your head bowed.